![]() byron bay yoga teacher trainings
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pre requisite
The pre-requisite is completion of a 200 hr Ishta System teacher training or 200 hr Ishta style training in another country. Other 200 hr teacher training program prerequisites will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students embarking on the advanced apprenticeship must have a genuine desire and interest in teaching Ishta yoga, as well as a dedication to self-discovery. A regular meditation practice is recommended.
This course will give you the confidence to teach The Ishta System style of yoga. This advanced course is also a mentorship, you will be personally supported in learning how to really experience and share the deeper levels of yoga. An intense course like this can help to really solidify your meditation practice and develop your abilities as a healer and caregiver. Being a yoga teacher is a vocation of the heart; your skills ripen from years of practice, persistence and inner transformation. Embarking on the journey to become a yoga teacher is an opportunity to discover more of who you are and how to share that with others.
This course is both practical and theoretical. It requires strong focus and stamina. On some imtensives you will be doing up to five hours of asana practice. We ask that you are self-motivated, punctual and know how to take care of yourself when under pressure. Practicing and learning yoga is a lifelong journey. Immersing yourself in an intensive course can be challenging physically, mentally and emotionally. The teachers will be available to guide you and offer support, but ultimately it is up to the individual to accept the exciting changes and challenges that yoga offers.
The principle teacher on this course is Rachel Zinman; other teachers who regularly teach in ongoing Ishta System teacher training programs will assist her
Bios
Principal Teacher
Rachel has practiced yoga for 20 years and taught for 14. In Australia she trained in both the Iyengar and Astanga methods, teaching yoga at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium in Lismore, New South Wales, where she was Head of Dance. She also co-created and produced a popular Australian Yoga Video series and a Kid's Yoga Video.
Rachel is a professional dancer, choreographer, award-winning musician and published poet. Her teaching style reflects her deep engagement with the arts: dynamic and precise with an emphasis on mindfulness.
Rachel met ISHTA yoga founder Alan Finger in New York City in 2000 and taught at his studio, Be Yoga for four years. While there she was the co-creator, coordinator and one of the facilitators and mentors in the Be Yoga Teacher Training Program.
Rachel returned to Australia in September 2004, to teach in the Yoga Arts Teacher Training, and is currently facilitating workshops, retreats and trainings in The ISHTA System in Sydney, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay, Japan, Switzerland, Munich, Frankfurt and New York.
Asana / Prenatal
Kate Shroeder was first introduced to yoga at the Kripalu Centre for Yoga & Health in 1998. Deeply impressed by the positive physical, mental, emotional and spiritual transformation that was occurring as a result of her yoga practice, she regularly visited Kripalu to participate in the Seva (selfless service) Program where she was able to further develop her physical practice of Hatha Yoga and explore the meaning and practice of Karma Yoga (yoga of service). Kate discovered ISHTA Yoga in NYC in 2001 and completed the 500hr level of yoga teacher certification in early 2005. Kate lives in NYC but travels to Australia regularly to assist and teach in the Ishta System teacher training. Intent on creating classes that make yoga enjoyable and accessible to everyone, she encourages her students to discover the body's innate wisdom through the breath. Developing a smooth, easy breath during asana practice (physical practice of yoga) enables students to connect more deeply with their intuition, which naturally guides them to practice yoga in a way that suits their own particular needs and truly nurtures their mind, body and spirit. Kate teaches ISHTA style classes, Pre-natal and Restorative classes with humour and joy!
Asana
Joanne Langton was drawn to yoga through the study of the philosophy over 30 years ago. A few years later she began asana classes while still living in her hometown of New York City. During the next 12 years she worked in the movie industry as a production manger and producer and when time allowed pursued yoga in the US and in India.
17 years ago, with plans to become a yoga teacher in San Francisco, Joanne visited a friend in the Byron Shire and instead has lived there ever since. While having a family, building homes and gardens she studied various styles of yoga with many of Byron Bay’s teachers, as well as attending workshops with an array of visiting instructors. During the past 6 years Joanne intensified her study and practice, attended several teacher-training courses (with Yoga Arts and ISHTA) and finally fulfilled her long time desire to begin teaching over 2 years ago.
Rachel Zinman and Joanne first met at a month long yoga intensive 15 years ago. Joanne was introduced to ISHTA yoga when Rachel taught workshops in Byron during annual visits before she re-settled there. For Joanne the attraction to the ISHTA system is the way it integrates many elements within a class – the detailed understanding of the physical postures, the importance of meditation and the breath, the philosophical insights and the individuation that ayurveda brings – satisfies Joanne’s desire as a teacher to convey yoga’s larger meanings.
Anatomy
Christoph Kummer ND
Adv.Dip.Nat.,D.Hom.,DHM,D.Nut.,Cert.YogaTeacher
Chris combines his long-standing passion for yoga with a professional interest in health and healing, into a hands-on, practical exploration of the necessary elements of anatomy and physiology for yoga teachers. Being a yoga teacher himself, Chris is continually exploring further aspects of the mind-body-spirit connection to present to his students into a fun and easily digestible format.
Suffering from a bendy case of scoliosis as a child, regular yoga practice during primary school years corrected and strengthened Chris’s body alignment, which lead him onto a sporting career. Being first trained as a nurse, he began an education in medicine at university. He soon became dissatisfied with the medical approach to problem solving and decided to immerse himself in the study of natural therapies, where he gained extensive knowledge and
practical experience. Dry and boring anatomy teachers
inspired Chris to create a dynamic and fun way to teach these subjects.
When not teaching, Chris enjoys the beach and surfing, practices naturopathy in his clinics in Byron Bay and Sydney, specialising in soft tissue alignment, and produces yoga DVDs for children. Chris has been teaching anatomy and physiology in yoga teacher trainings nationally and internationally since 2000.
Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell, B.Sc., D.C., graduated as a chiropractor from Sydney College of Chiropractic in 1986. He has also studied acupuncture, massage and has a Bachelor of Science (Anatomy) from The University of Sydney. Bruce is a member of the Chiropractic Association of Australia (CAA) and the Sacro-Occipital Technique Organisation (SOTO). He is currently undertaking further studies at The University of NSW in the Master of Public Health (MPH) program.
Bruce moved to Northern NSW with his family after graduating. He has been serving the community of Byron Bay since 1990 and from his premises at 52 Shirley Street since 1996.
Bruce follows the Baha¹i faith and incorporates the practical and spiritual perspective that derives from this faith into his philosophy and approach to chiropractic work.
A lover of form and movement he has studied, various forms of yoga, meditation, Tai Chi and Ai Ki Do, as well as having an interest in natural horsemanship and sculpture
Bruce has previously taught anatomy to Massage and Chinese Therapy students and looks forward to engaging with yoga teacher trainees in their study of the human form from the experiential perspective of yoga practice.
Ayurveda
Jacinta McEwen is the eighth child of a family of ten. She was raised with practical common sense in the South Australian bush. At the age of thirteen Jacinta found yoga and meditation and eventually journeyed to India to deepen her practice, where she spent years studying these ancient traditions. She has been a yoga teacher for twenty years, currently teaching in her hometown of Mullumbimby. Jacinta’s style of yoga has been inspired by Sivananda, Iyengar, Satyananda and Yogananda.
Jacinta trained and worked as a nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and then went on to become a naturopath, herbalist and massage therapist. While living in India she also became fascinated by the ancient art of Ayurveda. She has been practicing the healing arts for over twenty years, working individually as well as facilitating workshops and trainings in Australia and overseas.
As a mother of four teenage boys she keeps a fresh outlook on life and is passionate about holistic lifestyles, health and education. After the home birth of her eldest son, Jacinta attended many births and trained as a lay midwife. She gained much experience during this time and specializes in mother and baby healthcare to this day. For many years Jacinta has been part of a team of women who facilitate ‘heart of woman’ workshops locally and around Australia.
Jacinta currently practices out of her naturopathic and herbal dispensary business called Mullumbimby Herbals. As well as naturopathic consultation, yoga and bodywork Jacinta also offers Ayurvedic treatments such as Shirodara, Nasya, KatiBasti and Ayurvedic lifestyle support. She continues to study Ayurvedic medicine and coordinates these trainings in Australia. Jacinta is profoundly inspired by the mind, body, spirit connection and strives to deepen her own spiritual practice as she delves further into these.
Yoga Philosophy
Philipp started practising meditation and Yoga in 1992. Between 1993 and 2003 he dedicated a total of seven years in India to study with different masters.His main influences are Buddhist traditions, Satyananda and Iyengar Yoga, and his background in Shiatsu and Taoist practices. Philipp currently teaches and writes for several Yoga Teacher Training courses. “Since moving away from the East, my main passion has been to bring Yogic inquiry and practice into a modern context, aiming for a meaningful and compassionate way of being in the world.”
Kirtan and Creativity and Intuition
Nyck Jeanes
Nyck is a radio broadcaster on Bay FM radio in Byron Bay and Magazine editor and publisher of Be Magazine in Byron. He has also been a musician and songwriter all his life. Nyck has been an actor, café proprietor, writer, journalist, and poet too. As a musician, Nyck wrote documentary soundtracks for ABC Australia and Channel 4 in Britain, and as a performer in duos, bands and theatre work through many years. From 2000 Nyck and his wife Rachel Zinman and family lived in New York for over 4 years. During that time Nyck wrote a weekly radio and print piece back to Australia, called Letter from New York and worked promoting and creating Yoga workshops for Be Yoga . Chanting came into Nyck’s life through partner Rachel while they lived in New York. With Rachel he conducts Kirtan's in Byron Bay, Sydney, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Japan, Switzerland, Germany and New York. Together as the Subway Bhaktis they have just produced their first CD Sita Ram. You can listen to samples at www.inspirational-music.net
cost
venue
Temple Byron
46 Meleleuca Dr
Byron Bay NSW Australia
For general enquiries info@ishtasystem.com Or Ph: +61 2 66847827
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Information regarding studio space, housing, and living in Byron Bay
Our studio space is the Temple Byron. It is located just out of town and is surrounded by lush gardens in a tranquil setting. The Studio is 2 minutes drive from beautiful Sunrise and Belongil beaches. There is a Supermarket and several Cafes in the nearby Creative Arts and Industrial Estate.
Accommodation for the duration of the training is your responsibility - however there are lots of housing options in Byron Bay. Many students share a holiday rental, or take a room in a house. A room in a house can cost from AUS$100 to $150 a week. You can search the classifieds in the local paper, The Echo – their on-line version can be found at www.echo.net.au. Other alternatives are: www.byronbay.com and www.byronbayaccom.net. The Ishta System staff will be happy to suggest places for you to stay when you first arrive, while you are looking for more permanent housing.
Byron Bay - General Information
Cape Byron is Australia's most easterly point, 153° 39´ east, located on the north coast of New South Wales. With its numerous beaches, unspoilt hinterland, and relaxed lifestyle, Byron Bay is a popular tourist destination. It is also a place where artists, musicians, dancers, writers, surfers, healers and of course yogis express their diversity and individuality. The town has all major facilities: a hospital, cinema, supermarket, health food stores and great restaurants, as well as a flourishing alternative health industry. If you live in town you won’t need to drive and can easily hire a bicycle if you need to get around.
The average summer temperature is 21C - 28C, and average winter temperature is 15C - 21C, There are also periods of heavy rainfall, especially in summer. The area has a total annual rainfall of 1734cm.
Byron Shire has a population of close to 30,000, while the town of Byron Bay has a population of about 9,000.
Byron Bay is located just off the Pacific Highway, 800kms north of Sydney, 175kms south of Brisbane. Airports are located in Ballina (30mins south) or Coolangatta (60mins north) and busses and trains arrive regularly.
The following websites provide information about Byron Bay and the surrounding area:
Cost of Living in Byron Bay
Prices in Byron Bay are comparable to elsewhere in Australia and in the developed world. A guide to local prices: a litre of milk costs $1.50; a loaf of bread $2.50; a litre of petrol approx $1.09; a cup of coffee $2.70.
Currency Exchange
All prices quoted are in Australian dollars. Please visitwww.xe.com for up-to-date information on exchange rates.
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